LENIN COLLECTED WORKS

NOTES TO A.K. PAIKESU

[August 15, 1918]

Comrade
Paikesu — try to exert influence,
otherwise
they will expel or remove him, since he was summoned by decree of the SNK.

To
Paikesu
The question will now have to be raised here, since such is the decision just
adopted.
Lander is committing such stupidities and insolences that everyone's patience is
wearing thin, and we cannot find even one argument in his favor.
You take the floor.

1 A.K. Paikesu at this time was a member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of State Control.
The notes were written at a session of the Council of People's Commissars on August 15, 1918
in connection with the examination of a conflict between the People's Commissar of State Control K.I. Lander
and member of the collegium of that commissariat A.V. Galkin, and K.I. Lander's refusal
to come to the SNK session for an explanation.

TO THE PEOPLE'S
COMMISSARIAT OF FINANCE

[August 20, 1918]

To the Commissariat of Finance
To Comrade
Krestinsky

I request that you examine this statement and report to me tomorrow,
August 21, 1918, the conclusion of the People's Commissar of Finance.

1 The resolution was written on the statement of A.L. Shaternikova — widow of
a zemstvo doctor who died during the struggle against an epidemic of typhus.
A.L. Shaternikova requested help in obtaining money stored in a safe
at the Moscow Bank, which she received from the zemstvo for the upbringing of her children after
her husband's death, and a loan belonging to her father.

On the statement there is a report from V.M. Bonch-Bruevich concerning the Shaternikovs,
as revolutionary workers, people completely without means, known
to her since her youth, and a notation by N.K. Krupskaya: "Shaternikova's
address: Higher Women's Courses. I associate myself with the request
of Vera Mikhailovna Bonch-Bruevich. N.K. Ulyanova."

2 N.N. Krestinsky — People's Commissar of Finance.

NOTE TO L.D. TROTSKY

[August 1918, not before the 20th]

Comrade Trotsky!
Think about this.
Should we not appoint
Vatsetis as Supreme Commander-in-Chief?

Lenin

1 The note was written on a report from military commissar A.I. Egorov
on the necessity of the immediate unification of the management of military
operations of the troops in one hand, on the appointment of a Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
answerable to the Council of People's Commissars, and the formation of a Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

2 I.I. Vatsetis — colonel of the old army. After the October
Revolution he went over to the side of Soviet power. Participated in the suppression of the Left Socialist-Revolutionary mutiny in Moscow as
commander of the Latvian Rifle Division. Subsequently was commander of the Eastern Front, and from September
1918 to July 1919 — Commander-in-Chief of the Armed
Forces of the RSFSR.

NOTE TO G.I. PETROVSKY

[Between August 21 and 28, 1918]

To Petrovsky

Ispolatov
complains that they want to arrest him without cause. You apparently know what the matter is about.

1 G.I. Petrovsky — People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the RSFSR.
2 N.N. Ispolatov — chairman of the Usmansk Soviet of Tambov Province.
3 In reply to this note from V.I. Lenin, there is a response from G.I. Petrovsky
stating that he does not know the substance of the matter, but has information characterizing

LENIN COLLECTED WORKS

the conduct of N.N. Ispolatov in a negative light, and he has requested
the materials of accusation.

On the reverse of the note, with the address of N.N. Ispolatov written on it,
who was in Moscow at that time, there are the following notes by V.I. Lenin: "Ispolatov. Room 25. Speak with Petrovsky." (Lenin circled the last phrase.)

EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH L.A. FOTIEVA

[August 23, 1918]

I asked permission from Tsyurupa to inform you that he had
2 fits today
and that he cannot deliver his report. He did not
give permission, so do not give me away.

It was not... wise to ask him for permission. Summon
Svidersky or Bryukhanov.

1 The correspondence took place at a session of the Council of People's Commissars on August 23, 1918.
2 A.D. Tsyurupa experienced hunger fainting fits due to malnutrition.
3 N.P. Bryukhanov — deputy People's Commissar of Food Supply.

NOTE TO A.I. RYKOV

[August 1918, not later than the 27th]

Why give separate powers of attorney (to the Turkestan expedition on irrigation) to
nearly forty persons?
They have no right to do this individually.
It is necessary to give a general one.

1 The matter concerns the granting of powers of attorney to members of the Turkestan expedition
on irrigation. A.I. Rykov in his note to V.I. Lenin reports on the desire of the participants of the expedition to have powers of attorney
each individually in case they disperse to various places in Turkestan, and along
with this proposes granting a general power of attorney.